Predictive value of intracranial high-density areas in neurological function.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial high-density areas (HDAs) have attracted considerable attention for predicting clinical outcomes; however, whether HDAs predict worse neurological function and mental health remains controversial and unclear, which requires further investigation. AIM: To investigate the predictive value of intracranial HDAs for neurological function and mental health after endovascular treatment. METHODS: In this prospective study, 96 patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) who accepted endovascular mechanical thrombectomy (EMT) were included. The enrolled patients underwent cranial computed tomography (CT) examination within 24 hours after EMT. Clinical data in terms of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), the 3-month modified Rankin Scale (mRS), self-rating depression scale (SDS), and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) scores were collected and compared between patients with HDAs and non-HDAs and between patients with good and poor clinical prognosis. RESULTS: Compared to patients without HDAs, patients with HDAs presented severe neurological deficits (admission NIHSS score: 18 ± 3 vs 19 ± 4), were more likely to have post-stroke disabilities (mRS < 3: 35% vs 62%), and suffered more severe depression (SDS score: 58 ± 16 vs 64 ± 13) and anxiety disorder (SAS score: 52 ± 8 vs 59 ± 10). Compared to patients with a good prognosis, patients with a poor prognosis presented severe neurological deficits (admission NIHSS score: 17 ± 4 vs 20 ± 3), were more likely to have HDAs on CT images (64% vs 33%), and suffered more severe depression (SDS score: 55 ± 19 vs 65 ± 11) and anxiety (SAS score: 50 ± 8 vs 58 ± 12). Multivariate analysis revealed that HDAs were independent negative prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, HDAs on CT images predicted poor prognosis and severe depressive and anxiety symptoms in patients with AIS who underwent EMT.

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor attenuates kidney injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) IV inhibitors are probably beneficial for preventing diabetic complication and modulating glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) expression. The aim of this study was to determine whether the DPP IV inhibitor LAF237 (vildagliptin) has renoprotective qualities in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabetic and nondiabetic rats were treated with an oral dose of 4 or 8 mg/kg/day LAF237 or placebo for 24 weeks, and renal injury was observed by light and electron microscopy. We also assessed DPP IV activity, active GLP-1 level, cAMP and 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine excretion, and GLP-1R, cleaved caspase 3, and transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) expression. LAF237 significantly decreased proteinuria, albuminuria, and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, improved creatinine clearance, and dose-dependently inhibited interstitial expansion, glomerulosclerosis, and the thickening of the glomerular basement membrane in diabetic rats. It is noteworthy that LAF237 markedly down-regulated DPP IV activity and increased active GLP-1 levels, which probably prevented oxidative DNA damage and renal cell apoptosis by activating the GLP-1R and modulating cAMP. Renoprotection was also associated with a reduction in TGF-ß1 overexpression. Our study suggests that DPP IV inhibitors may ameliorate diabetic nephropathy as well as reduce the overproduction of TGF-ß1. The observed renoprotection is probably attributable to inhibition of DPP IV activity, mimicking of incretin action, and activation of the GLP-1R.

Was femoral nerve block effective for pain control of medial opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy?: A single blinded randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Medial compartment femoro-tibial osteoarthritis (OA) is a common disease and opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) is the common surgical procedure carried out for these patients. While most researchers are focusing on the surgical techniques during operation, the aim of this study is to evaluate the pain control effect of femoral nerve block (FNB) for OWHTO patients. METHODS: In this prospective, single-center, randomized controlled trial (RCT) study, 41 patients were operated on by OWHTO for OA during 2017 to 2018. Twenty of them (group A) accepted epidural anesthesia with FNB and 21 patients (group B) only had their single epidural anesthesia. All blocks were successful and all the 41 patients recruited were included in the analysis and there was no loss to follow-up or withdrawal. Systematic records of visual analog scores (VAS), quadriceps strength, mean number of times of patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA), using of additional opioids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and complications were done after hospitalization. The Student t test and Chi-Squared test was used and all P values ≤.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: VAS scores at rest (3.48 ±â€Š1.0 vs 4.68 ±â€Š1.1) and on movemment (4.51 ±â€Š0.6 vs 4.97 ±â€Š0.8) decreased more in group A than group B with significance at follow-up of 12 hours. The quadriceps strength, consumption of additional opioids or NSAID injections and mean number of times that the patients pushed the PCIA button didnot differ significantly within each group. CONCLUSION: This RCT study shows that FNB in patients undergoing OWHTO for unicompartmental osteoarthritis of the knee could result in significant reduction in VAS scores at 12 hours postoperatively.Research registry, Researchregistry4792. Registered April 7, 2019 - Retrospectively registered, http://www.researchregistry.com.

Visit-to-visit Systolic Blood Pressure Variability and Stroke Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Visit-to-visit variability in systolic blood pressure (SBP) may have an important additional role in increasing the risk of vascular complications, including stroke. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the relationship between visit-to-visit SBP variability (SBPV) and stroke risk. PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library databases were searched for cohort studies with data on visit-to-visit SBPV and stroke risk. Studies that reported adjusted relative risks (RRs) with 95% CIs of stroke associated with SBPV were included. Fourteen cohort studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in our meta-analysis. After adjustment for age, sex, and existing vascular risk factors, the analysis showed that the risk of stroke in patients with SBPV was significantly increased compared with patients with a small baseline SBPV [SD (RR=1.20, 95% CI=(1.07-1.35), P=0.0005), CV (RR=1.12, 95% CI=(1.00-1.26), P=0.008)]. In addition, follow-up variations of more than 5 years were associated with a higher risk of stroke than those of less than 5 years [RR=1.08, 95% CI=(1.04-1.11)]. Visit-to-visit SBPV was associated with an increased risk of stroke, especially in terms of the time of variation. Taken together, SBPV data may be useful as a preventative diagnostic method in the management of stroke.

Sulodexide Protects Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells from Oxidative Stress-Induced Injury via Upregulating Klotho Expression at an Early Stage of Diabetic Kidney Disease.

The hypoalbuminuric effect of sulodexide (SDX) on diabetic kidney disease (DKD) was suggested by some clinical trials but was denied by the Collaborative Study Group. In this study, the diabetic rats were treated with SDX either from week 0 to 24 or from week 13 to 24. We found that 24-week treatment significantly decreased the urinary protein and HAVCR1 excretion, inhibited the interstitial expansion, and downregulated the renal cell apoptosis and interstitial fibrosis. Renoprotection was also associated with a reduction in renocortical/urinary oxidative activity and the normalization of renal klotho expression. However, all of these actions were not observed when SDX was administered only at the late stage of diabetic nephropathy (from week 13 to 24). In vitro, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) dose-dependently enhanced the oxidative activity but lowered the klotho expression in cultured proximal tubule epithelial cells (PTECs). Also, H2O2 could downregulate the expression of klotho in a dose-dependent manner. However, overexpression of klotho reduced the HAVCR1 production and the cellular apoptosis level induced by AGEs or H2O2. Our study suggests that SDX may prevent the progression of DKD at the early stage by upregulating renal klotho expression, which inhibits the tubulointerstitial injury induced by oxidative stress.

A chin-lift mask produces a patent airway more effectively than an oropharyngeal airway using the EC-clamp technique in obese patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficiency of ventilation using a novel chin-lift mask compared with an oropharyngeal airway (OPA) with EC-clamp technique in obese patients. METHODS: Obese patients scheduled for cholecystectomy under general anaesthesia were divided into two groups: the OPA group, in which a standard mask and OPA with the EC-clamp technique were used; the CL group, in which the chin-lift mask was used. Respiratory data were compared. RESULTS: One hundred patients were recruited and assigned to the OPA (n = 50) and CL (n = 50) groups. Compared with the OPA group, expired tidal volume, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), tidal volume/peak inspiratory pressure ratio and end-tidal carbon dioxide were higher, and the peak and mean inspiratory pressures were lower, in the CL group. In the CL group, no patient had an SpO2 ≤ 95% and the lowest SpO2 was 99%, whereas in the OPA group, 23 patients had an SpO2 ≤ 95% and the lowest SpO2 was 92%. Difficult mask ventilation occurred in eight patients in the OPA group but in none in the CL group. CONCLUSION: The chin-lift mask provided a patent airway and better quality mask ventilation than an OPA with EC-clamp technique in obese patients.

Preemptive submucosal infiltration with ropivacaine for uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the preemptive analgesic effect of submucosal infiltration of ropivacaine for uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Comprehensive clinical center and academic hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifty consecutive male patients scheduled for uvulopalatopharyngoplasty were divided randomly into group A and group B. In group A, 4 mL of 0.33% ropivacaine and normal saline with epinephrine was preincisionally injected under the mucosa on both sides of the tonsillar fossa, soft palate, and the lower part of palatoglossal arch, whereas the upper and middle parts of the palatoglossal arch and the upper part of the palatopharyngeal arch were infiltrated with 2 mL of the same mixture. In group B, an identical volume of normal saline with epinephrine was administered. In both groups, postoperative pain was initially controlled by intravenous morphine titration until patient-controlled analgesia with morphine could be used. Cumulative patient-controlled analgesic morphine consumption; visual analog scale scores at 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively at rest and during swallowing; and opioid-related adverse effects were recorded. RESULTS: The visual analog score was lower at rest during the 48-hour postoperative period and during swallowing within the first 12 hours for group A versus group B (P < .05). Patients in group A required 44.1%, 38.2%, and 41.1% less morphine during the first 24 hours, 24 hours to 48 hours, and 48 hours postoperatively, respectively, and fewer patients experienced nausea, vomiting, and pruritus (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Preemptive submucosal infiltration with 0.33% ropivacaine effectively controlled pain after uvulopalato-pharyngoplasty.

Neuroprotective effect of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, synthetic exendin-4, in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors are widely expressed in neural tissues and diminish neuronal degeneration or induce neuronal differentiation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the GLP-1 pathway on peripheral nerves in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Diabetic and nondiabetic rats were treated with the GLP-1 receptor agonist, synthetic exendin-4 (i.p., 1 nmol·kg(-1)·day(-1)) or placebo for 24 weeks, and current perception threshold values, cAMP levels and nerve fibre size in the sciatic nerve were measured. We also investigated GLP-1 receptor expression, quantitative changes in PGP9.5-positive intraepidermal nerve fibres and cleaved caspase 3-stained Schwann cells by immunohistochemistry. KEY RESULTS: GLP-1 receptor expression was detected in the sciatic nerve and skin. After exendin-4 treatment, the increase seen in current perception threshold values at 2000 and 250 Hz in diabetic rats was reduced. Also, the decrease in myelinated fibre size or axon/fibre area ratio in the sciatic nerve and the loss of intraepidermal nerve fibre in the skin of diabetic rats were ameliorated. These responses were closely associated with the attenuation of Schwann cell apoptosis and improvement in the cAMP level in exendin-4-treated diabetic rats, compared with placebo-treated animals. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Synthetic exendin-4 may prevent peripheral nerve degeneration induced by diabetes in an animal model, supporting the hypothesis that GLP-1 may be useful in peripheral neuropathy. The neuroprotection is probably attributable to GLP-1 receptor activation, antiapoptotic effects and restoration of cAMP content.